Thoughts the morning after. Rutger's RAC isn't very big and doesn't look it, officially seating only 8000. There's a pathetic diminutive student behind the basket at the visitor's end of the court, and its occupants, at least yesterday, weren't dressed in red, or black, admittedly colors that don't show up very well, but at least give it a try. But I didn't see any Orange dots around the area other than the ushers who were all dressed in orange shirts.
I, of course, was resplendent in my Orange sweatshirt with "CHIEF" across the front and the Chief huge across the back. Met one couple walking in with Illini gear, and out of all the seats possible, wound up sitting next to a couple of Illini. Didn't wee any another Illini there. Period.
However, a Rutgers fan, maybe a student, spoke loudly about how Rutgers won the last game against Illinois, speaking confidently, perhaps expecting there would be a repeat. Okaaaay, pal, look up hubris in the dictionary.
Rutgers has two mascots, one a guy dress up in red armor, waving a sword. Then of course the typical foam-headed thing that WE DO NOT WANT. There wasn't much for the guy in armor to do, and he wasn't out very long. The foam head guy did foam head stuff.
There was a guy behind me who kept shouting "Watch Hinke, watch Hinke." Uh, who? I thought perhaps Hinke was a Rutgers player? When the guy groaned about another Rutgers turnover, I told him do be too hard on Rutgers, we lead the league in opponents' possessions resulting in turnovers, at 22 percent. It happens to everyone. That didn't make him feel better.
I don't have to tell you about the game, but it was annoying to sit among all the Rutgerites who were thinking, "Hey, we're hanging around. Maybe we have a chance." And I and my new Illini friends were thinking, "Why are we letting them hang around. Maybe they have a chance."
Half-time at Rutgers was less inspiring than something really uninspiring. I can't remember anything that would get any crowd fired up, and I don't know who chose that local karate school show as entertainment. Someone must have been paid off to get them out there. Oh, yeah, New Jersey.
On the other hand, their cheer sounds like, "We are. Are you?"
Second half, Rutgers comes out, closes and then ties. The place makes the same kind of noise they made when they hit that three pointer last year. This can't be happening.
It didn't. You know the final score. But still, a lot of people with Rutgers gear had come late and more were leaving early, especially after we retook the lead and it became increasingly obvious halfway through the second half that Illinois had firmly taken over. (Though they don't know about The Drought that could happen at any time). But for the Rutgers fans, the game just ended...
Really, if I were recruiting for Rutgers, I wouldn't take them to a game.
